Sports ramblings…with a Yankees bias!

Lock and Load, Welcome to Fenway…

The showdown resumes…

The Yankees begin a three game series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night.After losing the first 8 games of the season series to the Red Sox, the Yankees rebounded during the last four game set to sweep the series from the Red Sox.So, here we are on August 20th, and the Yankees hold a 6 ½ game lead over the Red Sox.At the All-Star Break, I said that the Yankees just needed to win four more games than the Red Sox.They have done that and then some, but the key is to hold the lead.This weekend’s series can go a long ways toward deciding the eventual 2009 AL East Champion.

For the latest series, I have once again made a wager bet with Julia of Julia’s Rants.I so enjoyed finally emerging victorious during the last series, and I have to admit that Julia impressed me with her “payment” for the loss.She wrote a fantastic Top 11 about positive Yankee statements, and her photos with the Yankees flag attached to her SUV were exactly as required under the terms and conditions of our bet.For the latest series, we have decided to retain the Top 11 post (once again the credit goes to Jimmy Curran for the idea) but for the second part, we have opted to spending a day wearing the opposing team’s ballcap.I do recognize that Julia is at a disadvantage since it would be more painful to wear a Yankees cap in Boston than it would be wearing a Red Sox cap in the San Francisco Bay Area.So, I will toss in an extra.If the Yankees lose the series, I will wear the pink Red Sox hat for a day following a day of wearing the traditional Red Sox cap.Not that I intend to lose, but I recognize that Julia needs a handicap.So, Julia, my friend, game on!

The latest road trip, so far, has been successful for the Yanks.They took 3 of 4 from the Mariners in Seattle, and 2 of 3 from the A’s in Oakland.I attended the second game in Oakland, and had a few observations.I knew that CC Sabathia was a big guy, but seeing him close-up as he warmed up prior to the game, I’d have to say that the dude is absolutely huge.

After seeing a few games at AT&T Park in San Francisco, it was somewhat of a disappointment to go to Oakland Coliseum.My wife and I took BART up to the stadium, and my first thought was that the “drive up” appeal of the stadium was sorely lacking compared to AT&T Park.As you approach the stadium, you quickly realize that you are in Raiders territory.I hate to knock a stadium, but after a year that has seen my attendance at AT&T Park, the new Yankees Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I’d have to say that Oakland Coliseum is a major letdown.I am optimistic that the A’s relocate to San Jose, so we’ll see.They definitely need a new home.Back to the game, I was disappointed when CC gave up a home run to catcher Kurt Suzuki after throwing a brushback pitch.But the disappointment was short lived as the scoreboard announced that my section and row had won a free pizza from Roundtable Pizza as a result of the home run.Hey, c’mon, it’s pizza!The game remained tight until the sixth inning when the Yanks finally broke through with 5 runs, and eventually won 7-2.The crowd was very pro-Yankees as the chants of “Let’s Go Yankees!” drowned out the cries of “Let’s Go Oakland!”.

There were many Derek Jeter jerseys in attendance.I like DJ and I know that he’s headed for Cooperstown, but I’ve never fully understood the attraction that DJ has on fans.Personally, I prefer watching the home run guys, like Mark Teixeira.It’s not that I wouldn’t want Jeter on my team (I do), but I don’t see the power he has over women.I heard one older woman Red Sox fan (not Julia, she’s not old!) once say, “I hate Derek Jeter, but he’s so cute”.I don’t get it.

My wife took this photo with her cell phone and posted it on Facebook.It was amazing how many people thought this was an actual photo from the stadium.It does look kind of real though…

So, with Boston’s win over Toronto tonight, the Yankees arrive at Fenway Park with a 6 ½ game lead.Regardless of what happens, they’ll leave Boston in first place.But will the Red Sox be close enough that Julia can return to her “obnoxious” ways (j/k), or will the Yankees put further distance between them and the boys from Beantown.This is ‘to be determined’ but I can assure you that I do not intend to wear a pink hat!

The San Diego Padres have apparently accepted cash from the Yankees for pitcher Chad Gaudin in lieu of the player to be named later.Considering that the cost was only $100K, I suppose that meant GM Brian Cashman just had to reach into petty cash to settle the account.Rumor has it that the Accounting Department doesn’t know how to write any checks with 6 figures or less.LOL!

So, the St. Louis Cardinals are counting on John Smoltz to help them stave off the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central?Yikes!Good luck with that.Then again, the Yankees are going with the two-headed monster of Mitre/Gaudin so I guess I have no room to talk…

Yes, it’s off topic but how can I resist making comment about new Vikings QB Brett Favre.As you may (or may not) know, I am a die-hard Vikings fan.I have been one all my life, and it has been a roller coaster ride.I resigned as a Vikings fan when they made Bob Lee the starting QB following Sir Francis Tarkenton’s retirement.But I came back around with Tommy Kramer.

The Dallas Cowboys were always my second favorite team, so I followed them in those in-between years.But fast forward to present day, the QB position has always been very important to me.I had been a big fan of Dante Culpepper’s and it was disappointing when his Vikings career ended because of the knee injury and a difference in philosophy with coach Brad Childress.It has been frustrating to see ex-Vikings go elsewhere and thrive, like Rich Gannon previously in Oakland, Shaun Hill in San Francisco or even Tyler Thigpen who started a few games for the Chiefs last season.I was never a fan of Tavaris Jackson, and I was somewhat skeptical of Sage Rosenfels.The only connection I have with Rosenfels is that we are both native Iowans, like Kurt Warner.I like John David Booty, but I do wonder if he’ll ever achieve professional success.So, I am begrudgingly warming up to the idea that Brett Favre is now the Vikings starting QB.

Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune

The 2009 Vikings have the most talent of any Vikings team that I’ve seen since at least 1998.All the pieces to the puzzle are in place for a great year…except QB, until now.Perhaps Favre comes out and repeats his performance with the New York Jets last year (great start, but fizzle down the end), but conversely, there is a chance that he could replicate his final season with the Green Bay Packers.So, based on that, I do feel that I have to give him a chance.If anything, it has to be a great learning experience for Jackson, Rosenfels and Booty to be around Favre.Granted, one of those guys will probably be holding a clipboard for a different team when the regular season starts, but there is value in Favre’s presence among the other QB’s.Maybe Favre should have considered ‘Just For Men’ but then again, if memory serves correctly, Kenny Stabler had grey hair in defeating the Vikings in the 1977 Super Bowl.Not one of my fondest memories…

4 Comments

Scott – you know, I am going to love seeing you out and about in the Bay area in your Pink Red Sox Hat! The Red Sox? This is NOT the same team your guys played a few weeks ago – GAME ON my friend! And I hope your Vikings enjoy watching my Patriots play in the Super Bowl!

Looks like there is going to be a brawl between the Yankees and Red Sox! Sweet. Hey in 07 the Indians beat the Yankees in the ALDS but lost to the Sox in the ALCS. So even though we lost to the Sox I gotta say, go Julia! And the Browns are going to be in the super bowl. JKJKJK.
Go BROWNS, and INDIANS!http://tribewithted.mlblogs.com/

I look forward to another big weekend for the Yankees at Fenway Park with the Yanks winning at least two of the three games !!!
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Good luck and best wishes for another series win for the Yankees, and, also, for you to win back-to-back wagers with Julia !!! … Julia did excellent work on her “Top 11″ list of positive things about the Yankees; I look forward to a second “Top 11″ list from her, of even more geat things about our New York Yankees !!!
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Take care, Scott !!! … Enjoy the games this weekend !!!
Go Yankees !!!
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
— http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/

“Super Bowl or bust”, jeez, your Yankees fandom is spilling over into your Vikings fandom ;) Personally, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that the Favre saga will be entertaining no matter what happens. He might lead the Purple to their first-ever SB title, and that would be great. But if he fails, he’s going to be a spectacular failure on a level that we’re not accustomed to, even from the Vikes. Either way, it’s going to make for some compelling football this season. -Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.blogspot.com

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